Zendaya – Margaret Malandruccolo Photoshoot

Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman (born September 1, 1996), known simply as Zendaya, is an American actress, singer and dancer. Early in 2013, Zendaya was cast on the sixteenth season of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, becoming the show’s youngest contestant at 16 and placing runner-up. That July, Shake It Up had concluded, and in the following months, the book Between U and Me, and her debut album Zendaya arrived. The album’s lead single “Replay” was released on July 16, 2013 and was number 40 on Billboard Hot 100 and number 18 in New Zealand and was certified platinum by RIAA on January 30, 2014. Her self-titled debut album was released on September 17, and peaked at 51 on Billboard 200.

Zendaya to Star in Lifetime’s Aaliyah Biopic

Singer-actress Zendaya is set to star in Lifetime’s original movie “Aaliyah: Princess of R&B” (working title) about the life of the late actress and R&B artist Aaliyah, who died in a plane crash in 2001.

Zendaya will record four of Aaliyah’s songs for the film, based on the bestseller “Aaliyah: More Than a Woman” by former Time Magazine music editor Christopher Farley.

Known to most by only her first name, Aaliyah Dana Haughton made her debut on “Star Search” at age 10 and was only 22 years old when a plane carrying her and some of her video crew crashed after taking off from a Bahamian runway. The film will depict her journey and rise to fame.

Like the young star she will portray, Zendaya has delved into both music and acting and even landed the runner-up spot on season 16 of “Dancing With the Stars.” After starring on the Disney Channel series “Shake It Up!” Zendaya released her self-titled 2013 debut full-length album. She is also set to star in the upcoming Disney Channel original series “K.C. Undercover” and the Disney Channel original movie “Zapped,” which premieres this summer.

“Aaliyah:Princess of R&B” will be produced by Aaliyah Productions, Inc. with Howard Braunstein and Debra Martin Chase serving as exec producers. Bradley Walsh will direct from Michael Elliot’s script.

The telefilm will be filmed this summer and is slated to premiere in the fall.